Right-wing party AfD surpasses CDU/CSU in the most recent German public opinion survey
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) has seized the lead as the country's most popular political force, according to the latest Forsa poll for RTL and NTV. The AfD's support has surged to 26%, overtaking the Christian Democratic/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) bloc, which now stands at 24-25%.
This marks the first time the AfD has taken the top spot in Forsa's recent surveys, surpassing their February 2025 election result of about 20.8%. The CDU/CSU's decline in support coincides with a drop in satisfaction for Chancellor Friedrich Merz, with 67% of respondents expressing dissatisfaction.
The SPD, the junior partner in the coalition government, held steady at 13%, while the Greens gained one point, reaching 13% support. The Left Party, on the other hand, dropped one point, reaching 10%.
Alice Weidel, co-leader of the AfD, shared a poll on social media platform X, suggesting the need for an AfD government. Weidel also claimed that voters are tired of the CDU/CSU's continuation of the previous government's policies.
The coalition government between the CDU/CSU and the SPD may have contributed to the AfD's recent gain in support. The AfD had previously topped the same poll on April 22 with 26%, but lost ground after the CDU/CSU formed a coalition government with the SPD on May 6.
The CDU leader, Friedrich Merz, has a 29% satisfaction rating among respondents, a significant drop from late June when 42% were satisfied and 51% were dissatisfied.
[1] Forsa poll conducted between August 12 and August 18, 2025. [2] The AfD's 26% support in the Forsa poll. [3] The CDU/CSU's decline in support and the rise in dissatisfaction for Chancellor Friedrich Merz. [4] The SPD, Greens, and The Left's polling results. [5] The AfD overtaking the CDU/CSU bloc for the first time in Forsa's recent surveys.
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